GM Diet | #movewithmaggy

Before you start bombarding me with questions like "Why are you doing this during Chinese New Year? You nuts?" or " What sort of diet do you even need? You're not even fat! Fat is obese!", allow me to do a little explanation as to why I took up this GM Diet. 

First of all, yes I'm not fat. But neither am I fit (ANYMORE). My circle of close friends and family would have realized the amount of weight I've gained over the past couple of months. You might or might not see the FATTY FRIENDS that I've made, but I know my body very well. And being the fitness/health enthusiast that I self-proclaim.. I do take effort to read up on articles about proper weight loss/ workout regimes. I have been binging on junk food, eating unhealthy portions and even been demotivated to workout because I have completely lost my mojo. I guess we all go through that 'downside' of life, don't we? I would admit that it was probably the break-up that I went through mid last year. (Wait, what?! What break-up? I thought you guys..... ) Ok, stop right there. Yup, we parted ways approximately 7 months ago and the post break-up weight did linger around longer than I thought it would. 

Anyway, back to the main point. So yup, I gained quite a few pounds and I've decided to get back on track because it irks me so bad whenever I scroll through my photo albums, looking at the lean and fit body I once had. I told myself that I need to stop giving excuses and just start doing it. And I'm doing it RIGHT NOW! 

Second question. Why during Chinese New Year? Well, it's pretty simple and I don't think I need to state the obvious. It used to be the festive season that I look forward most to every year, but don't get me wrong.. I STILL DO. It's just that (which brings me back to my first point).. I've gained enough and I don't think I deserve to indulge anymore of these "junk" food. Plus, even if I let myself.. I'll just have to do more work after, which I don't think is a very brilliant idea. So yup, no pain no gain? 

Just a snippet of the temptations that I had to endure, resist and combat throughout my diet routine.. CAN YOU IMAGINE?!  

Brought my bottle of water with me. MAMAK - 0,  MAGGY-1. 

Only took vegetables, and those watermelon balls you see. Yummm!

I'm a sucker for great desserts (cupcakes esp), but once again, DESSERTS - 0, MAGGY - 1. 

From hereon, the detox begins! *hehe*. 

I was introduced to this diet by Natalia and being the amazing friend that she is, she decided to do it WITH ME! The entire world knows that there is absolutely no need for her to go on the diet, but 'going on a diet' was one of the bucket list ; so, kill two birds with one stone perhaps? I get to lose my excess weight while having a great buddy to do it with me! Thanks Nata! :) 

We both did our research prior to starting this diet. Apparently it is the safest and most effective crash diet around. The actual GM Diet is supposedly a 7-day diet, but Nat only did it for 5 because if she continue on any further.. she would probably vanish into thin air. HAHA. So, this diet isn't really recommended if you're technically underweight (based on your BMI). 

GM, the abbreviation of General Motors, and hence The GM Diet. It is a weight loss management plan developed by the General Motors Corporation to help keep their employees stay in shape! (Oh, thank you General Motors!). 

"This diet system involved the consumption of specific foods per day. The GM Diet and it's unique diet plan helps you to reduce up to 10-17 lbs in 7 days. Reducing weight is the primary goal, additionally with reduced weight comes the added benefit of feeling good. Not only does it improve the mental state and attitude of the person following the diet course, it also help you to cleanse & detoxify your body" - GM Diet Overview. 

DAY 1 : ALL YOU CAN EAT FRUITS, EXCEPT FOR BANANAS 

It looks a lot easier than you think it is. "Fruits only? Ahh, I love fruits. I can do that!". That was what I initially thought too, but the fact that you're consuming so much 'sugar' (because any fruits in general, are sweet), you'll get so sick of the 'sweetness' by your third meal intake. Munching on grapes did help. I kept switching between the black (sweet) ones and the green (sour) ones just to play around with my tastebuds. 

By dinner time, we were barely surviving. First day is always the toughest, no kidding! So, we succumbed into some Trail Mix just to tease our tastebuds a little. My first nut and I went "Ahhhh.. this is sooooo gooooood!". HAHA. It would be great if you can get through the first day without 'cheating' like how we did. I'll do better my second round! 

Trail Mix and our fruits palette. 

Dieting is boring, but YOU can make it fun! #justforlaughs 

DAY 2 : ALL YOU CAN EAT VEGETABLES, AND VEGETABLES ONLY

I've never looked forward to eating veges THIS much, ever in my life. We were so excited to tuck in early the night before just so we could indulge and feast on our vege broth we prepared the night prior. 

Vege broth that lasted us the entire day : cabbage + carrots + tomatoes + onions + mushrooms. 

DAY 3: ALL YOU CAN EAT FRUITS & VEGETABLES! 

By today, you'll be almost back to normal. Your body would have been so used to the amount of fruits and vegetables you've had for the past two days. So, the third day would be peanuts for ya! Just try to stay away from temptations. Afterall, a burger would still taste million times better than ... broccolis? 

Technically, you're not supposed to consume starchy vegetables such as corn, potatoes, green peas and yams , so try avoiding those. But according to the diet plan which we were referring to, we're allowed to have one potatoes each. So we had TWO! (oh, happiest day of my life). Instead of boiling it in our soup, we decided to bake our own fries! Absolutely no oil, no butter, just 2 potatoes and sprinkle some sea salt and stuff it into the 400degrees hot oven! (refer to Nat's Blog for more pictures). 

Sauteed mushrooms that Nat made was super yummy! Didn't know it was that easy.

B-R-O-C-C-O-L-I-S!!

Baked some homemade fries with NO OIL, just two potatoes and some sea salt! TOTAL WIN! 

Sauteed mushrooms! 

DAY 4: BANANAS AND MILK ONLY 

Technically, only 6 bananas that will last you the entire day. Sounds difficult, but I got through it like a breeze! I was surprised myself! I reckon its because the amount of energy that one banana gives, so with 6 bananas, you'll easily get through the day without constantly feeling hungry. 

I wouldn't say I'm lactose intolerant, but I can't take milk. I just cant. God knows how I got through my childhood; the thought of it gives me goosebumps, HAHA. But hey, there's always a way around things. My alternative was SOY MILK! So, 6 bananas and a bottle of organic soymilk kept me going strong! I could even run for 30 minutes that day. Seriously, I was on my best form! Never felt so good. 

DAY 5: STEAK DAY! 

By the 5th day, I've already lost a total of 3kgs. And the feeling of tasting meat again.. was beyond words! My 10 ounces of juicy Australian Tenderloin just perfected my day. Oh speaking of which, if you haven't been to Las Vacas - you really should try it out. Oh, you're welcome ;) 

That wraps up by 5 intensive days of GM Diet! Even though Nat resumed her regular diet, I continued on with my 6th and 7th day. Since it already gave me a kickstart, I might as well follow up and fully commit to it, no? After all, NO PAIN NO GAIN! Basically the 6th day involves "UNLIMITED MEAT AND UNLIMITED VEGGIES" and on the 7th day, you're finally allowed to consume 1 bowl of brown rice, unlimited veggies and fruits. Ahh, carbs.. how I've missed you! 

If you want to continue to lose weight, try not to eat too much carbs on the consecutive days. You might put on some unnecessary weight which you might not see coming. So keep eating clean and hydrate yourself with lots of water! I'm starting my day with a fruit (usually an apple or a pear) and gallons of water every morning!

Here's my take on my GM Diet experience, 

1) You Will Need A Diet Buddy : I kid you not when I say it's tough, especially on the first day. When your body is adapting to the whole 'clean eating' and it's done rather drastically because you're only allowed to consume fruits, and fruits only, having a buddy with you will allow you to motivate each other. Honestly I wouldn't have been able to get through it with Natalia. 

2) You Need To Be Mentally Prepared : Yes, mentally prepared. I know it sounds tempting to attempt when I say I lost 3kgs by my 5th day. I would too if I see someone lose that much weight within such a short span of time. But friend, it's a crash diet.. meaning to say, the faster you lose, the faster you gain. So, if you're gonna do it just for the sake of doing it, I reckon you don't do it at all. Because, if you're going to start feasting again as soon as your diet ends, you'll probably gain even more than you initially started. It took me a week of preparation prior to starting this diet. I told myself I will need to start eating clean 'gradually', so my body wouldn't dysfunction during my diet. So yes, alot of mental preparation required. Meditation did help me too! 

3) Your Energy Level Might Fluctuate : Let's not state the obvious. The lesser you eat, the lesser your body processes, the lesser energy you'll get. Simple science, no? :) I was a total weakling during my first two days of the diet. But by the third day, I was pretty much back to normal and even went for a run. And on my fourth day,  I was on my best form! 

4) You Can't Cheat, Not Even A Cookie : If you're gonna eat, might as well NOT do it. If you're going to stick to this diet, make sure you still till the END of it! Yes, one cookie and the chain is broken. So, don't cheat! ;) 

5) It's A Detox/Weight Loss Diet : Why so? If you realize, there is absolutely no carbs throughout the diet (except for that one potato on your third day), plus the amount of fruits and vegetables that you'll be consuming really does give your body a good detox/cleanse. 

6) Keep Yourself Hydrated! : Need I say more? H20 is gonna be your best buddy throughout the diet! Drink up! We drank lots of water and tea everyday. Absolutely NO sugary drinks. Keep that in mind :) 

"IT'S 70% DIET, 30% EXERCISE" 

I think we've heard enough of that. So, practice what you preach! Yes, dieting helps but working out will increase your metabolism and by keeping yourself active, you're doing your body your favor too! If your body has been hibernating for a while, getting back on it might be difficult but you can always start slow. Go for jogs in the evening, or perhaps a dip in the pool? 

Found this article online and found it really beneficial if you're looking to lose/gain/maintain your weight. I remember my personal trainer telling me that if you want to lose weight, go for the weights! It will allow a gradual weight loss in the longer run, while cardio exercises are merely burning your calories temporarily. I'll elaborate more on that in a later post! Just refer to this chart for now. Hope it helps! 

Planking can be fun too! #justforlaughs 

Sweat buckets during my weekly Badminton session. 

Don't mind my sweaty hands! (trying to prove how much I was sweating).  Look at those pores, they were outta control! 

Working my lower abs with my fav medicine ball. 

"Remember, fitness is a lifestyle, it's a process. You might not see your desired results overnight, but if you stick to the plan and keep your eyes on the prize.. it will be well worth the fight!" - says Maggy Wang! 

I have received a lot of feedback and queries regarding this GM Diet. And yes, to those who asked if I'm doing Round Two.. I AM GOING TO! And if you want to join me, feel free to follow me on Instagram and my Facebook  ; dont hesitate to tag me if you have any questions and if you want to share with me your fitness progress, I would be more than happy to see it! If you have twitter, tweet me at @magdelinewang! 

I haven't reached my target weight just yet, but I will keep pushing until I do! In the meantime, follow me on my journey to a fitter and better me! #movewithmaggy will ya? 

Love, 

Maggy. 

Almost Lover

I don't usually get very personal when it comes to my public posts. And, I don't really intend to. But today, something.. somehow just triggered my emotions and I am going to tell you a story. 

A love story. 

But before I proceed further, remember these two names; Alaric and Mia. 

**************** 

Mia, known for her bubbly personality; has always been the people person. She's the heart of every party that she goes to. She warms up to people so quickly, so easily, so naturally.. conversations with her can hardly ever get awkward, because she's simply so nice to converse with! And when she listens, she does it with all her heart. She's a simple girl, easily amused, can get pretty gullible at times.. but she has a good heart. 

And like any other girl, she longs for her prince charming, her knight in shining armor.. or whatever else you call it. Not that she's on a hunt or anything, she just secretly wishes that someday, The One would come knocking on her door. Yes, if you're trying figure out if she's a hopeless romantic? I'm gonna give you a yes. A big fat YES! 

"If I ever find my my other half again, I'll love him with all my life, my all. I'd shower him with my affection, my love, and I'll love him like no other. And if he ever walks into my life.. I would know. But I'm curious; how would he look like? Would he be like the many other guys I've dated before? Ew, no please. Some were douches, and I'm allergic to douches. No, he won't be, I know. It will all be right, in His timing. It will all be right". 

So, one day.. Alaric came into the picture (he just popped out of nowhere, like a mushroom! yes, mushroom!). Well, he wasn't the kind of guy that you would notice at your first glance. But funny enough, he was what Mia had always wished for. In fact, almost close to perfect if you must ask. How on Earth is that even possible?! Yes, he's Chinese ( great, her parents would love him), he speaks perfect English ( thank God, she'll never be able to handle a ching-chong-bing-bong), he's pretty damn well-built ( oh, Mia is a total sucker for men who works out, especially if you're those with nice arms and 6-pack abs. oh, that's a done deal hunny!) ; I don't want to sound like a shallow bitch, but let's just admit it.. who wouldn't swoon over a nice body?! I TOTALLY WOULD AND I'M NOT GOING TO DENY THAT. Also, he speaks perfect French and nope I'm not even done yet.. he's a Harvard graduate ( ok, stop!).   

"Okay, this can't be true. Sounds too good to be true. How can he seem so perfect? No, God.. you're scaring me.. I asked for a good man. You gave me a perfect one." 

************** 

(I'm speaking as Mia.) 

There was this one day, he asked me out. This is going to be my second time meeting him. And IT'S A DATE! Oh my Lord, my heart raced and I didn't know how to respond. I don't remember how it was like to be on a date. It felt like eons of years ago. I've never really dressed up for dates when I was with my ex ; I mean.. everything was so casual then. But I didn't want this date to be casual. Alaric seems so special. "Okay, I'm going to look my best", I told myself. I ransacked my entire wardrobe, found the perfect bareback dress, did my hair and some make-up and I left. I made sure I smelt like my favourite Acqua di Gioia essenza. I was never really the kind of girl who cares about .. handcreams. But that night, I just felt like I needed everything to be perfect. Because.. he was. 

I switched between my ballerina flats and my heels a couple of times. I hate being this tall sometimes. "If only he was taller", I thought to myself. Ugh, perfection is overrated. 

"Just be yourself, Mia." 

"Don't impress too much. You don't know him that well."

"Don't have to give him your best, he does not deserve it, not yet". 

I just.. over-freaking-think sometimes. No, most of the time. 

We were supposed to meet at 8.30pm. It was 8.25pm and my heart started to race, I think it popped. I went to the ladies several times, just to make sure I looked alright.. if not my best. And when the minute-hand reached the 30th minute, my phone rang. 

*ALARIC CALLING* 

Well, of course I picked it up! I've waited all week to see this guy. ALL WEEK! Feels like forever, I swear. But I didn't want to seem like I was too eager. I let it ring for another 2 (and a half) times, before giving my best "Hey!". 

The moment I saw him, my heart dropped. Honestly, he wasn't the best looking guy in town, but his personality just shines through and there's so much goodness in him that it's hard not to love. He has this megawatt smile that would just melt your heart, almost instantaneously. At least it did, to me. And the funniest part about him is when he laughs.. you can't see his eyes. Uhm, Chinese.. but.. such a cutie.

So, yes. We went to this French restaurant; and that was when I heard him speak French for the first time. Mind you, it was perfect French. PLUS FREAKING POINT! Apparently, he lived in France for 3 years before moving back here. Interesting.. this guy travels. And I love a guy who travels. He can story me his adventures, because ... I love stories. I'd have bedtime stories supply that would last a lifetime!

The food was great, but my company that night was the best, ever. I don't remember too much details from that night; but I sure won't forget this. 

(in the midst of our conversation)

Alaric : Mia, could you please do me a favor? 

Mia     : uhm.. yes?

Alaric  : Could you stop smiling like that? 

Mia     : Huh? (I swear, I thought something was stucked in between my teeth) 

Alaric   : No, not that. Your smile is too sweet, its distracting me. 

I blushed. And I don't remember myself 'blushing' like that for a long time! He was amazing, and I'll never forget that. From then on, things just kept on going and we saw each other almost every other week. Alaric, well.. he's quite a workaholic. Being the workaholic that he is.. he travels quite abit too. So, we only saw each other whenever he's back in town. "Distance makes the heart grow fonder" - I guess it's true. And what I loved most about him, was his heart of Gold. He was such a giver; and he made me realize that chivalry isn't dead. He was the perfect gentleman. And we always had so much to talk about; so much so that we would talk until either one of us falls asleep. 

Everything seemed fine, until one day.. when I realized something wasn't right. I just didn't feel right. He was distancing himself; and I didn't understand why. Just when I thought things were going fine. I wanted to know what went wrong. I was broken when I finally realized that.. things would never work out between us. I was shattered. I was broken. I was disappointed. I was furious. I was everything. He was my everything. Or least I thought so. Emotions were all over the place. 

But it was a tad too late. I've already fallen into the 'black hole'. I was in love with him. And there.. was no turning back. I had to deal with my emotions. It was all over the place, I remembered. But I just had to pick myself back up. I mean.. what other choice do I have? I had no choice. He just vanished into thin air.. just like that. I knew the problem wasn't with me; and he told me too. 

Well I guess.. 

"I wish I knew you earlier, Mia. I really really wish I did". 

But you didn't. Too bad for you Alaric. You were amazing, we had a great time, but I should've known you'll bring me heartache. I guess, our love will have to wait another lifetime. I know LOVE is a strong word, but I loved you. I was ready to love you.. I was ready to give you my all.. my time, my care, my affection, my everything. But... there's always a 'but' hey? Well, wherever you are right now.. whichever part of the globe.. I wish you well. And perhaps, we'll meet again in another lifetime.. hopefully 'in time' to catch each other again. 

Farewell for now, my almost lover. I'll try not to think about you :) 

f

*******************

It's 3.45am now, I shall head to bed. But writing this 'love story' tore open my heart once again, and the song.. just enhances the whole mellowness in me. HAHA. I love doing this to myself, I'm insane. Just one of those nights where I just needed to pour my heart out. Truth be told, I'm not a very brilliant writer; I suck at executing my ideas into words, but I try. And I tried :) I hope you liked both my characters, Alaric and Mia.

Why do you think Alaric did that? I'm pretty sure Mia would love to know. I'm pondering myself too. It could've been such a wonderful love story. Could've been.

2014, I'm back!

Oh yes, I am still well and alive!

It's almost unbelievable how fast time flies. It's already 2014! Say WHUTTT! Whatever happened in 2013, can someone remind me? Actually no, I need a fresh start! HAHA. 

Hmmm, I need a lil breather to think of where to start. 

So, I've been having my summer holidays since November and my 7th semester is about to commence in March. Many asked what I've been up to. Well, obviously being the usual me ; I wouldn't take up any full time job at the moment because I am enjoying the flexibility of being a freelancer *haha*. Plus, my radio job has taken up most of my weekends! So, I usually just hit the gym, read some books, attend castings/auditions/meetings, chill at home mostly really and sorting out my weekly schedule. My first week of January started pretty well though. 

Flew over to Sabah for a week to film a movie. Well, it's not my first time acting but my first involvement in an international production ; which super duper excites me! I was told that the movie will be showing in theaters in Malaysia soon (sometime after CNY I reckon) and I can't wait! My role was very minor, but hey! We all gotta start somewhere :) I will keep you guys posted on that! 

Candy , Emily, Gabs from Hong Kong and Leng Yein! Dream team ;) 

On another note, remember the chinese game show I filmed for a couple of months ago? It's called Splash Fiesta 水舞全城 and its now showing on TV2, every Friday at 6pm! I'm not sure which episode I'm in but be sure to catch it. It's gonna be really funny to watch myself speak Mandarin on national television though, that's a first! If you're wondering what exactly the show is about, well is basically like a Malaysian version of WIPEOUT. Be ready to laugh till your abs hurt ; I remember slipping off a couple of times! :P 

Crystal, from M-Girls (四个女生) & I battling it out! Remember watching her when I was a kid , kinda starstrucked! :P 

It's quite impossible to go in details with everything, so I'm just gonna briefly scan through whatever that my braincells can process at this hour (oh, the consequences of being a major procrastinator). Honestly, so much happened that I really really don't know where to begin! Let's go bit by bit, shall we? Since I recently got back from Singapore for a weekend retreat, let's just get into that! 

I absolutely love travelling, be it doing it the VIP style with all things 5-star or just backpacking to wherever; I'm good to go! I love getting myself immersed into the difference cultures and lifestyles. Sabah was my first time and I absolutely loved it! Plus, being able to work with the crews from China (mostly Shanghai and Beijing) was quite an eye-opening experience for me too! I'm absolutely blessed that one of the many perks of my job ; is being able to travel! No complaints :P 

So, back to Singapore. It was super impromptu. Coincidentally it was a non-working weekend for me, so I immediately agreed to go! Weekend retreat, done right! HEHE. Had so much fun with Nat (yes, Natalia Tangling, formerly known as Natalia Mei if you must ask) HAHA (sorry Nat, I had to :P). The entire trip, we were pretty much stuffed to the brim. I don't remember being hungry AT ALL. From Lei Gardens for dinner the moment we arrived, Wild Honey for brunch the next day, and then Yakiniku Yawaza for the best yakiniku in town (HANDS DOWN!), and of course, the awesome hotel breakfast which I regret not waking up earlier for... (dang it). 

Quick brunch at my favourite cafe in KLIA, Cafe Barbera. 

Our first stop right after we landed was Chijmes. I was absolutely in awe with the beautifully structured buildings ( in the heart of the city! how precious). It once housed a Catholic convent school known as the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ), and hence CHIJMES! If you haven't been to this place, you ought to visit at least once. A Singaporean friend of mine made a pretty funny remark though "How can they commercialize this place?! It's making it from holy to sinful leh!". Well, at least they didn't turn it into a nightclub! That'd be worst! Decent cafes and restaurants are still pretty acceptable in my opinion! :) 

The next day, we headed over to Wild Honey at Mandarin Gallery for brunch. Holy smokes! Their Eggs Benedict were heavenly. Kinda regretted I didn't order that but my Big Breakfast wasn't too shabby either. Definitely worth trying and I'm most certainly making another visit when I'm in Sg next! It's usually full-house especially during weekends, so it's better for you to make a reservation prior! We had to wait for at least 30mins before getting our table. 

My partner-in-crime for the weekend! Teehee. 

Haha such posers! 

#macamyestapibukan

A lot of skills were needed for this one shot I tell ya! ;P 

Ok, this one was candid. HONEST! 

At Wild Honey @ Mandarin Gallery. 

While waiting in-line for our table, we took a visit at this mini Art Gallery next door. I've always enjoyed Art but unfortunately, not quite born with the talent of spontaneity when it comes to.. painting/drawing. Plus, I have extremely short attention span ; so I'll probably never be able to complete anything. I still remember those days when I attended Art class, I'll always be the last to finish. Hmm, actually.. I was probably a little perfectionista. That's why! Perhaps its time I dig up my old  work of Art! :P  Should be interesting.  Speaking of Art, the weekend we're in Singapore was already the week they had Art Stage Singapore at Marina Bay Sands. Too bad we didn't have enough time for that! A little bummed, but there's always next time! :) 

Of all the Artwork, this particular sculpture caught my attention. I mean, these sculptures. It's called AIBUDAO, and its a collaboration between Ai Wei Wei & Eric So. Apparently they cost about 200K SGD, 400K SGD and 600K SGD respectively! 

"Chinese activist and artist Ai Weiwei collaborated with Hong Kong-based toy designer Eric So on a series of sculptures for the Singapore Museum of Art and Design’s booth at Art Stage Singapore. The series, titled ‘Aibudao,’ means ‘unlovable’ in Chinese and refers to the artist’s nude studio portrait series." - Brock Cardiner, HIGHSNOBEITY. 

Nat doing her thang! 

And back to our brunch! These pictures do no justice to the food. You really need to go try it for yourself if you haven't already! I've said this before but I'm gonna say it again "I went to heaven and came back.. craving for more!" [Dang it, probably not a good idea to blog at this hour. I'm hungry.. again!] 

THE EGGS BENEDICT ; capslock was necessary! HAHA. 

Later that night, Nat brought me to Fullerton Bay and we had a good stroll by the bay, overlooking Marina Bay Sands! How ROMANTIC! :P The view was absolutely picturesque. I have been to Singapore so many times but Fullerton Bay was a first! We definitely had a good time catching up over fruit punches (we both can pretty much KO with just a glass of wine, so alcohol wasn't a very good idea since we had to cab back to our hotel HAHA). To sum it up, it was a GREAT SATURDAY NIGHT! 

Since it's almost impossible to say NO to good food, the only alternative is to burn it off! And being the usual fitness junkie that we are, we DID make time for gym despite being on vacation! Talk about discipline and determination. Nat was definitely a great motivation because if it weren't for her, I would've probably slept off in the room (after such a long day of walking!). We both had a good 30minutes run on the treadmill and then some circuit exercises after, and of course a gooooood stretch after a great workout! I must admit that I've gained a few pounds over the past couple of months. And I am definitely working my way to eliminate those love handles! Dreading to have my bikini body back! I'm already on the roll, adjusting to my healthy lifestyle again, getting back on track! I'll definitely keep you guys posted on another episode of "FROM FAT TO FIT". It's in the making and coming your way!

Phew, that was quite a long post. Anyway, I will be keeping y'all posted on my fitness progress on my INSTAGRAM (@magdelinewang) and my Facebook Page, MAGDELINE WANG. Feel free to follow me on my journey towards a fitter ME! :) 

It's almost 2am now and I shall head to bed. One of the many reasons why I gained so much weight was the consequent late nights! Not gonna let history repeat itself. So, it's goodnight for now! Cheerio x 

WeChat x Secret Recipe Buy 1 Free 1 Cake Promo

I'm pretty sure Secret Recipe is no stranger to us all. This cafe franchise has been around long enough for us to have at least been to once, if not many. My personal favourite has to be their cake varieties, from Oreocheese cake, blueberries and now my all time favourite Red Velvet is available too! Kudos to keeping in trend with the cake fashion (oh yes, Red Velvet is definite THE CAKE that everyone dreads for). Well, at least I do. I'm a total sucker for red velvet cakes. 

Anyway, in conjunction with Secret Recipe's 16th Anniversary, they are celebrating their long streak of success with some really sweet deals! 

Attended the launch of their promo last Friday with some of my blogger friends. It's been a while since I've been involved in the blogosphere, but it was definitely great to see so many familiar faces, and even more new ones! We were invited to the Secret Recipe branch in Oasis Square, Ara Damansara and I must say, I really liked the ambience. Should definitely check it out if you haven't already. 

I was told that this is their first ever "Buy 1 Free 1" cake deal and needless to say, the red velvet cakes are gonna sell like hot cakes! I still remember when they first introduced the cheese cakes, they literally took the entire IPOH (yes, that's my hometown if you're wondering why I'm inserting a non-relatable town haha) by storm! I would walk over to the closest Secret Recipe, at that time it was located right opposite my school - for the cakes, and the lasagna, every week without fail!  

In collaboration with WeChat, this deal entitles the user/diner to buy 1 cake and redeem another cake (similarly priced) for free. Go download your WeChat if you haven't already! With deals like these, no reason not to join the bandwagon.

Here's how you do it.

1) Once you've downloaded the WeChat app, you'll need to create your ID. Once you're done with that, search for "SecretRecipeMY"

2) Follow them!

3) You will see this visual on their WeChat account - that's the ongoing deal.

4) Click on "Redeem Now" if you're ready for your cake galore ;) 

 5) Well, if you're sure.. click "YES"! and you'll be given an e-voucher. The visuals are easy to follow and as soon as you've followed them on WeChat, you'll figure out what to do. Hope this helped! x

The deal is only valid from 16th Nov until 30th Nov 2013 so, waste no time! Go download your WeChat app and head on over to the nearest Secret Recipe outlet. 

For more information, 

check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SecretRecipeMsia

If you have instagram, do hashtag #WeChatxSecretRecipe 

McDonald’s Begins Fairy Tale Adventure With Hello Kitty

Lo' and behold!

The Hello Kitty Craze is making a comeback! 

I'm pretty sure Hello Kitty is of no stranger to anyone of us. Hello Kitty ( ハローキティpronounced as Haro Kiti in Japanese ) is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company Sanrio, first designed by Yuko Shimizu. Hello Kitty is portrayed as a female white Japanese bobtail cat wit ha red bow and the character's first appearance on an item, was a vinyl coin purse, first introduced in Japan in 1974 and brought to the United States in 1976. Needless to say, Hello Kitty goes wayyy back in time. Definitely 'older' than most of us, or at least anyone who would be reading this post ;) 

Good news to all Hello Kitty fanatics! ( I noticed a few on my Facebook timeline already *wink)

Relive popular fairytales from your childhood with McDonald’s Hello Kitty Fairy Tale Series featuring the iconic plush Japanese white bobtail cat! In April, McDonald’s brought back Hello Kitty after a seven year absence with the McDONALDLAND series, and come 7^th November Hello Kitty fans are in for another treat! With five exclusive limited edition plush toys to collect, the McDonald’s Hello Kitty Fairy Tale Series is poised to excite collectors of all things cute and lovable with their arrival in Malaysia.

This time around Hello Kitty is set to entertain you and your friends by taking on the guise of characters from five popular fairy tales around the world: 

*make sure you mark these dates on your calendar! 

7^th – 13^th Nov         : The Ugly Duckling story by Hans Christian Andersen, Denmark

14^th – 20^th Nov       : The Frog Prince story by the Brothers Grimm. Germany

21^st – 27^th Nov       : The Wizard of Oz story by L. Frank Baum, United States

28^th Nov – 4^th Dec  : Little Red Riding Hood story by Charles Perraut. France

5^th Dec – 11^th Dec   : Singing Bone story by the Brothers Grimm, Germany

Each design, which comes in a special collector’s storybook-themed box, will be launched every week beginning from 7th November 2013, Thursday.

“At McDonald’s we are constantly attuned to what our customers want - providing the best value and dining experience for Malaysians in a way that is unique to us. The popularity of the McDONALDLAND designs earlier this year proves that Hello Kitty has always been popular – generations of Malaysians have been entertained by the Japanese bobtail cat,” said Stephen Chew, Managing Director of McDonald’s Malaysia.

 “Fans of Hello Kitty in Malaysia, the wait is finally over. For the next five weeks beginning 7th November, you have five good reasons to enjoy a great, wholesome dining experience with your family, friends and a limited edition Hello Kitty plushy at an affordable price of RM9.95, only at McDonald's,” he added.

The Ugly Duckling

Little Red Riding Hood 

Singing Bone

The Ugly Duckling 

The Wizard of Oz 

‘How do I get ‘em all?’

These exclusive official Sanrio Hello Kitty plushies are only available for a limited time and in limited quantities and are exclusive to McDonald’s. Each of the McDonald’s Hello Kitty Fairy Tale plushies are available for only RM9.95 with the purchase of any McValue Meal.

Purchasing Mechanics

• The McDonald’s Hello Kitty Fairy Tales Series promotion is available at Front Counter, Drive-Thru, McDelivery 1300-13-1300 and Web Ordering Service.

Availability of McDonald’s Hello Kitty Fairy Tales Series Promotion

• Toy designs will be available starting Thursday, 7 November 2013 from 12.00 midnight onwards for 24-hour McDonald’s restaurants.
• For the rest of our restaurants, the toys will be available at the start of its business hour on Thursday, 7 November 2013.
• The Hello Kitty Fairy Tales Series plush toys are only available WHILE STOCKS LAST.

I sure can't wait to get my hands on these Hello Kitty Tale Adventure collection! My personal favourite would definitely be The Wizard of Oz story by L. Frank Baum from the United States! Too cute to handle. 

Well, what else are you waiting for? Head over to your nearest McDonald's branch and get hold of these gems while stocks last! Only available for a limited time only ;) 

Comeback.

11.51pm, monday night with my never-ending responsibilities (wait, 'never-ending'? that's an understatement). The XX [Night Time] playing on repeat. Don't quite remember the last time I actually spent time with you my friend. Last post was on Bella's exhibition; everything seemed so perfect then. Well, almost perfect. Time passes by like a blazing storm; the next thing you know, it's gone. Far from gone. Hence, my hiatus. I've been spending so much time on myself. Yes, MYSELF. Self-discovery and lots of self-loving. Haven't done that for a while; a long while. So far so good. 

I am quite swamped with my trail of thoughts at the moment; I'll try to break it down, baby steps.

Life can be so brutal sometimes. Yes, I said brutal ; can be worse. Say like.. merciless, ruthless, heartless, remorseless, I don't wanna go on. The excruciating pain seems to be making a come back everytime I think about it. Drop that. You know, someone once told me "the one you want may not be the one you need"; but then, think again. Why would you want something you don't need? I need you, hence I want you, hence .. forget it. 

This isn't be best state of mind to be writing; no writer's block tonight but I just felt like it. Like, a part of me has long gone and I'm just trying to search for it. And if you're wondering, yup I'm still searching. Sucha hard to get lil brat. Darn it. 

[photo above] are my sentiments exactly. speaking what my mind can't figure out.

I torn between.. going on, rambling about things that will come to no end and stopping, here. Right here. And you know what, I'll just stop right here. Nope, this ain't going nowhere. 

Not the kind of blog entry you would probably expect from the usual me. I'll definitely be back for a (less) rambling post. Promise. 

Back to The XX. Here's some if you're keen too ;) x